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IAEA lauds Kuwait contribution to nuclear fuel bank project

By Abdelwahab Al-Gueyed

(with photos) VIENNA, Jan 27 (KUNA) -- Kuwait has signed here Friday an agreement in which it will contribute a sum of USD 10 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) nuclear fuel bank, a step lauded by the agency.
Kuwait's Ambassador to Austria and permanent representative at international organizations in Vienna, Mohammad Al-Sallal, signed the agreement with IAEA coordinator and assign administrator for the bank project Dr. Tarek Rauf.
The IAEA has set the funds for the bank at USD 125 million, stressing that such sum was integral to launch this ambitious project.
Ambassador Al-Sallal told KUNA that Kuwait was keen on contributing to such step that would enable countries to use nuclear fuel for peaceful energy projects.
The Kuwaiti diplomat also indicated that the level of cooperation between the IAEA and Kuwait was excellent, hoping that new opportunities would be provided in the future to further bolster cooperation.
Speaking about the nature of the project IAEA's media spokesman Greg Webb told KUNA that the IAEA's Board of Governors has assigned the Director General Yukiya Amano to establish a bank that would store low-enriched uranium as a step to provide fuel for member states that could not produce fuel for nuclear energy stations.
In regards to the current status of the bank, Webb said that the IAEA had issued a circular in May of 2011 to showcase the criteria for member states to benefit from the bank's services. As of now, only Kazakhstan expressed interest in such offering, indicated the official, adding that experts were sent to that country to coordinate on efforts to supply fuel to two reactors.
On the conditions to obtain such service, the official revealed that each country interested in fuel supply should adhere to the IAEA's regulations and code, adding that no fuel would be given if the nuclear reactors were used for non-peaceful purposes. (end) amg.gta KUNA 270958 Jan 12NNNN